New York Rangers' Sean Avery, left, is congratualted by Michael Sauer (38), Brian Boyle (22) and Ruslan Fedotenko (26) after scoring a goal against New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)— AP

+Read Caption

New York Rangers' Sean Avery, left, is congratualted by Michael Sauer (38), Brian Boyle (22) and Ruslan Fedotenko (26) after scoring a goal against New York Islanders goalie Evgeni Nabokov in the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
/ AP

New York Islanders' Frans Nielsen, rear, and Brian Rolston (11) celebrate Nielsen's goal against New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist as Rangers' Artem Anisimov (42), Ryan McDonagh (27) and Dan Girardi (5) skate near the boal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)— AP

+Read Caption

New York Islanders' Frans Nielsen, rear, and Brian Rolston (11) celebrate Nielsen's goal against New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist as Rangers' Artem Anisimov (42), Ryan McDonagh (27) and Dan Girardi (5) skate near the boal during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, in Uniondale, N.Y. (AP Photo/Kathy Kmonicek)
/ AP

UNIONDALE, N.Y. 
Brad Richards' go-ahead goal with 4:55 remaining snapped a tie and sent the New York Rangers to their seventh straight victory, 4-2 over the New York Islanders on Tuesday night.

Richards broke a 2-2 tie, and Ryan Callahan added an empty-net goal in the final second for the Rangers, who are on their longest winning streak since October 2009 when they also won seven in a row.

The Islanders (4-8-3) returned home from a three-game road trip and lost for the fifth time in six outings.

Henrik Lundqvist made 31 saves for his seventh win in 13 games this season. Evgeni Nabokov stopped 26 shots in the loss.

Sean Avery and defenseman Steve Eminger also scored for the Rangers (10-3-3). Frans Nielsen and Matt Moulson both netted tying goals, but the Islanders weren't able to nudge in front.

Avery's second goal of the season, and second in two games, gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead 14:43 in. With Brian Boyle and Ruslan Fedotenko causing havoc around the crease, Avery snapped a wrist shot from the high slot that beat Nabokov to the stick side.

The Islanders tied it just 2:49 later when Nielsen tied scored with an off-the-rush drive. The game then turned into the typical grind usually generated in this fierce rivalry. The Islanders finished with 23 hits, and the Rangers had 22.

Eminger put the Rangers ahead for the second time at 6:07 of the second period with his first goal since New York's 6-0 win at Washington on Feb. 25. Eminger has 18 goals in 427 NHL games.

Moulson's tip-in during a power play at 13:02 got the Islanders even again at 2-2. Moulson slipped past defenseman Dan Girardi and redirected John Tavares' centering feed past Lundqvist.

NOTES: Islanders forward Kyle Okposo was a healthy scratch, making room in the lineup for Nino Niederreiter, who returned from a conditioning assignment. ... Avery's fight with Mike Mottau concluded a peculiar sequence between the Rangers agitator and Islanders defenseman. Avery had collided with Mottau near the end of the first period. Both exchanged words and appeared to agree to a fight. However, before they exchanged punches, both were penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Mottau spent the end of the period in the penalty box, but Avery was sent to the dressing room. The two fought when their penalties expired 1:09 into the second period. . The Islanders announced the game as a sellout, although there were pockets of empty seats. ...